Life-saving device.



T. E. AUD.

LIFE SAVING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED smmzs, lm.

Patented June 17, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

T. E. AUD.

LIFE SAVNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1912.

Patented June 17 UNIBTFD S THOMAS EDGAR AUD, OF HERNDON, VIRGINIA.

LIFE-SAVING DEVICE. 4

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 317, 19t 3.

Application led September 23, 1912. Serial No. 721,905.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS EDGAR AUD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Herndon, in the county of Fairfax and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improved life saving devices, and more particularly to Water-proof union garments for this purpose.

shoulders above water.

With this and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully de-A scribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the garment in position on the wearer before the closures are secured; Fig. 2 is a similar view with all of the closures in place except the collar and the hood; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of.

. this improved garment in operative position on the wearers head for use; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereofiFig.' 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through the entrance tube and a portion of the body and one leg ofthe' garment with the tube in open position; Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the tube partially closed; Fig. -8 is a detail longitudinal vertical section through one of the feet of the garment.

In the .embodiment illust-rated, a oriepiece body iiicasing garment l is shown iii This garment is provided at its upper end with an opening 3 which is preferably V-sliaped as shown at at to adapt the head of the wearer to passeasily therethrough.

Secured within this opening 3 is a-guimpe v or shield 5, preferably constructed of elastic inaterialsucli, for instance, as thin rubber which will readily stretch and may' be folded into a small space when desired.

The ,lower edge-of this shield is secured to the edge of the opening 3 by ceinenting or in any suitable manner to rendei its connection, therewith water-proof. AThis shield 5 has a tubular neck encircling portion. (5 which is suiiicieiitly large to t permit the head of the wearer to be inserted therethrough when the garment is applied as This neck portion fis" shown in Fig. i. gathered around the neck of the wearer by a strap 7 and is vinade suilicieiitly long to be turned down over the strap as shown in Fig. 2 in a manner similar to t-lie collar of a turtle-neck sweater and which not only forms additional warmth around the neck of the wearer but `serves to prevent any passage of water. A rubber collar S is preierably clasped over the folded down neck portion and is secured in position by means of a suitable clasp 8 adapted toberadjustably connected with one of a series ofopenings 8".

A protecting Vstorni coll-.ir Q'is arranged or other be adjustably closed by means of clasps 12 adjustable fastening elements which will permit the collar to lit persons of different sizes, the edges of said collar l being' overlapped to prevent the entrance of water. The sidesand lower edges of this4 collarare preferably secured in position by means of clasps 13. y i

One or more annular casiiigs or pockets 14 extend around the body portion of tlie -garnient `1, one being herevsliown and composed of any suitable strong fabric. These pockets or casings 14 have suitable Ybuoyant material 15 inserted therein whichwill support the occupant with his head and shoulders above water. While one only of vthese pockets has been shown it is, of course, to be` understood that any desired number. may be y employed. i n l i Inflatable `water'wings 16 and 17 are formed on the shoulders of the garment and when the lower portion ofthe body of the wearer is submerged in water -tlie air contained in the garment will be forced upward into these water v shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thereby providing lioats to assist in sustaining the weight. of the wearer.

To provide for the quick application of this garment, it is provided with an entrance tube 18 communicating with an opening in the'body ofthe garment at the frontv thereof at a point below the float pocket 14 and' above the bifurcation or leg portion. This i opening and tube are sufliciently large to permit the body of the wearer to pass there? through and the legs to be legs of the garment. The body portion of the garment is then drawn upward and the head passed through the neck portion and the arms placed in the sleeves.` The mouth of this tube 18 has a casing 19 extending half-way therearound in which is inserted a belt 2O as shownin Figs. 1 and 6. After the wearer enters the garment through the tube 1S and passes his headthrough the neck portion thereof as shown in Fig. 1, the mouth of the tube is closed by folding it inwardly over the belt as shown in Fig. 7, until it is-entii-ely rolled up adjacentthe waist of the wearer. The belt 20 is then passed around the back of the wearer and brought to the front Aand secured by` a buckle 21 or other suitable fastening. The collars are then adjusted and the fastenings thereof secured.

A hood 22 is'preferably used to protect the head of the wearerand as shown', is constructed with a Haring depending skirt 23 to fit around the neck and shoulders of the wearer and to readily shed water therefrom and prevent it-s entrance thereunder.

Fastening clips or clamps 24 are preferably provided at to Vhold it in position on the foot of the wings and inflate them as inserted in the the ankles of the garment l wearer which is especially necessary when weights 25 are employed as shown in Fig. 8. I These weights 25 are designed to hold the feet ofthe wearer under the water to. prevent them from floating or comingnto the I surface, andareA preferably removable.

i YVhile I have described my invention with i more or lessminutene'ss as regards details l and as being embodied in certain precise tr forms, I do not desire to be limited thereto claims. .'On -the contrary, y proper changes inform, construct-ion and arrangement, the omission of immaterial circumstances may vsuggest or render eX- pedient.

1. A life preservingv device comprising a water-proof` union garmentliavii-ig at its top head, an entrancetu-be of the same Width 'as the waist portionoftlre body of thegarinent and having its 'open inner end secured tra-nsversely across the waist, Atheicomini'inica'tion ofthel tube with the pendent` of theopening at the top of the garment, said tubebeing of siilicien't length to permit itsopen outer end to be atten'ed and rolled upon itself up to the waist fto render itwater-tight, vand meansfor securing the rolled portion of the tube around the waist. A i l 2. A life preservingvdevice comprising a l water-proof union garment having a neck )portion for insertion of. the head there-1 through and provided with suitable closures,

f trance tube extending from and communii eating with thewaist portion ofthe Il the garment, said tube havingits open innei' end secured transversely across the waist, i the communication of the tube with 'unduly any more than"is pointed out in, the:

an adjustable opening for the'passage of. the

garment being inde? I contemplate all elements and substitution ofi equivalents as l a fiexible and substantiallycylindricalenbody of the garl ment being independent of the opening at-l j the top of Athe garment, said tube being of i sufficient length topermit its open `outer end i to be iattened transversely and rolled inwardly upon itself up 'to the Waist line to render -it water-tigli a casing extending l lialf-way around the outer end of the tube, a strap passed through the casing'to provide 'a stifening element on which the tube .may

be rolled, the ends of tended, and means for adjustably fastening the strap to secure the rolled portionof the tube around the waist of the wearer.

3. A life preserving device comprising a water-proof union garment having water wings secured to th garment and communicating with the interior thereof wherebyair may be forced into said wings s ment when pressure is exerted from below.

the strap being ezifroin the body of the gariis e upper portion of the i al1-opening at its upper end provided with my hand in presence of two Subscribing Wit# an adjustable closure, a yieldable Collar ennesses.

circling said closure-and a protecting storm collar arranged over said yieldble collar, THOMAS EDGAR AUD' f and a buoyant element carried by said gar- Witnesses:

ment. 4 L. O. HILTON, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set M. H. STUARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the, Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

